Blue Mountain
EAGLE
The
GLAD
GRADS
Students achieve
big milestone
– PAGE A8-A9
Grant County’s newspaper since 1868
W EDNESDAY , M AY 20, 2015
• N O . 20
• 22 P AGES
• $1.00
www.MyEagleNews.com
DEQ called in on JD fume probe
Residents should air out their homes
to clear the odor.
“We don’t believe it is particularly
harmful to people,” said Thomas Na-
JOHN DAY – Southwest John dermann, an industrial hygienist with
Day residents continue to report nasty Sterling Industries of Vancouver, Wash.
smelling fumes rising from the ground “But is it an irritant? Absolutely.”
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Nadermann reported the situation to
the source of the problem.
the state Department of Environmental
So far, the indications are the fumes Quality, which is expected to do a site
don’t pose a health hazard, but resi- assessment this week.
dents are urged to ventilate their homes
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By Scotta Callister
Blue Mountain Eagle
cials are hopeful the DEQ will quickly
identify the source of the odor. She said
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departments are ready to assist the state
agency in its efforts.
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vestigate when the Soil and Water Con-
servation District reported the problem
in March at its building on Canyon
Boulevard. The other reports are much
more recent, indicating the substance
causing the odor is on the move again,
underground.
Nadermann and Michael Montgom-
ery, a building contractor who special-
izes in hazard mitigation, canvassed the
John Day neighborhood last Wednes-
day, May 13, to try to determine the
extent of the problem.
John Day Police Chief Richard
Gray and Fire Chief Ron Smith also
were in the neighborhood last week,
checking new reports and talking to the
neighbors.
See DEQ, Page A12
OYSTERS, OYSTERS
EVERYWHERE!
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Blue Mountain Eagle
ENECA – Oysters must be accustomed to overcast skies and cool temperatures,
coming from the coast.
People attending the Seneca Oyster Feed didn’t seem to mind the gloomy weath-
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event.
Typical of past years, a line of hungry but patient oyster-lovers wound through the park,
while nearby, a crowd also packed around the hamburger stand.
Despite the muddy ground, ball players continued with their softball games, while bun-
dled-up spectators cheered. It was the 24th year for the event, which often draws visitors
from well outside Grant County.
Eagle photos/Cheryl Hoefler
Neither softball players nor spectators let
the cool, gloomy weather keep them from
enjoying ball games during the oyster feed.
S TUDENT
ART
From left, Kris Long, Brady Long, Shelby Mike McManus, left, and Thaddeus
Long and Thaddeus Cowan Thompson Cowan Thompson dish out plates of
keep warm tending oysters on the grill. oysters for the hungry crowd.
Process is now
in hands of FS
regional staff
By Scotta Callister
Blue Mountain Eagle
CANYON CITY – The
Grant County Court is asking
the Forest Service to hold off
on road closures in the Mal-
heur National Forest’s Elk 16
and Big Mosquito projects.
In a letter drafted last Fri-
day, the Court said they felt the
bulk of the work of the projects
could be done without immedi-
ate road closures.
The letter asks that the roads
remain open until the agency
can prove “one at a time” that
proposed closures are being
done legally, with the proper
National Environmental Policy
Act process and the support of
the Court and the sheriff. The
latter is required by a 2013
Grant County ordinance re-
garding access changes on the
public lands in the county.
The letter, sent to the Forest
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drafted after a special Court
meeting last Friday scheduled
as the objection phase for the
two projects comes to an end.
It was signed by County
Judge Scott Myers and Com-
missioners Boyd Britton and
Chris Labhart.
The Court attached 29 pag-
es, copies of letters and emails
it received from the public on
the issues, to the letter.
Sheriff Glenn Palmer, one
of those who submitted writ-
ten remarks to the Court, also
spoke at Friday’s meeting.
He said he opposes any
more road closures from a
public safety standpoint and in
keeping with the county ordi-
nance. He cited problems for
search and rescue, when roads
are gated, bermed or barricad-
ed, and he questioned the legal-
ity of such measures.
The Court’s letter didn’t
rule out eventual closures.
“We believe the proposed
closures could take place, after
taking a step back for a better
look at the consequences of
these actions,” the Court wrote.
“Furthermore, this would give
the Forest Service more time to
build the much needed trust of
the American citizens whom it
serves.”
Trust emerged as an issue
in the discussion, which drew
about 20 citizens to the Court-
house.
See ROAD, Page A12
A chance to hook a Chinook
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near Spray or Service Creek. Anglers are
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Blue Mountain Eagle
Kimberly should provide better angler har-
vest opportunities than reported in special
JOHN DAY – Anglers will get an un-
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usual opportunity over the next couple of
mainstem. The river reach below Kimber-
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ly is popular with boating anglers and has
Wikimedia
a stretch of the mainstem John Day River A male Chinook salmon.
more public access areas for bank anglers.
near Kimberly.
There are three salmon populations that
The Oregon Department of Fish and
The open area will be from the Highway migrate through this reach to spawning
Wildlife approved the opening of the Chi- 207 bridge, located .5 mile downstream grounds in the upper mainstem, Middle
QRRN¿VKHU\WKLVZHHN,WRSHQVWKLV:HGQHV from Service Creek, to the mouth of North Fork, and the North Fork. Smith noted that
day and continues through Sunday, June 7.
Fork John Day River near Kimberly. The ³PRUH¿VKHTXDOVPRUHKDUYHVWRSSRUWXQL
ty.”
$FFRUGLQJWR%UHQW6PLWK2'):¿VK span is about 26 miles.
$WWKHVDPHWLPHRI¿FLDOVVD\WKH¿VK
biologist in John Day, this year’s spring
ODFW set the bag limit at two adult
Chinook return over Bonneville Dam has &KLQRRNDQG¿YHMDFNVDOPRQSHUGD\DQG ery is compatible with the ongoing efforts
exceeded the escapement goals for the John DQJOHUVPXVWVWRSVDOPRQ¿VKLQJIRUWKHGD\ to recover the salmon runs in the region.
Much of the recovery effort focuses
Day River.
once they harvest two adults.
“Over 4,000 adults returning to the John
Statewide salmon gear restrictions ap- on restoring rearing and spawning habitat,
Day have crossed Bonneville Dam so far,” ply, as noted on page 9-10 of the 2015 Ore- but that is still limited compared to historic
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Smith said. “These high numbers can be gon Sport Fishing Regulations.
credited, in part, to habitat and passage im-
A Columbia River Endorsement and a competition for spawning grounds and for
provements that have occurred throughout combined angling tag are required. ODFW food. If conditions are too crowded in the
John Day basin – much of it on private land.” will conduct random creel surveys through- available habitat, the survival rate suffers.
ODFW opens special
fishery on JD River
Jesse Randleas
Grade 6
Humbolt
Elementary
Court: Put
road actions
on hold